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About the Book

Recent years have witnessed considerable consolidation between the disciplines of environmental and ecological economics at research level, but until now textbooks in the area have done little to reflect this. Ahmed Hussen’s book is to date the only one to reconcile the two standpoints.

The central focus of the book will continue to be on this systematic integration of both mainstream and ecological approaches to environmental economics, and an acknowledgement that enduring solutions to major contemporary environmental challenges can be obtained through studies based on a well-conceived and balanced interdisciplinary approach. However, this third edition also contains much that is new. Chiefly, brand new chapters appear covering the following topics:

The economics of climate change

The economics of biodiversity and ecosystem services

‘Green’ accounting and alternative economic and social indicators of sustainability

The business case for environmental sustainability

An Appendix that provides a brief historical account of the development of ecological economics

The result is a comprehensive introduction to the main facets of environmental and ecological economics — a text that boldly refuses to put up barriers between disciplines and takes a holistic approach to vital issues.

This student-friendly textbook contains a variety of study tools including learning points, boxed features, case studies, revision questions and discussion questions, and an Appendix that provides students with a review of basic economic principles relevant to the study of the environment and its management. Written in a clear and accessible style, this book will prove an excellent choice for introducing both students and academics to the world of environmental economics.

Reviews

"This is a wonderful textbook--honest presentations of varied perspectives, clear exposition of concepts and theories, with helpful attention to the history of the ideas presented,and judicious references for further reading." -Herman E. Daly, Professor Emeritus, School of Public Policy, University of Maryland

"A comprehensive text which should appeal to both social and natural scientists, substantially updated to cover a wider range of key environmental issues" - Alison P. Bailey, University of Reading, UK

"I appreciate the author’s broad view of environmental economics, and the inclusion of ecological economics as an alternative paradigm – this is most welcome since too few textbooks do this" - Barry Solomon, Michigan Technological University, USA

Praise for the second edition:

"This is a logically organised, well written text. Its distinguishing element is its explicit consideration of ecology, ecological economics, and sustainable development." -Douglas E. Booth, Marquette University, USA

"This is a well-researched and comprehensive text that offers an alternative and refreshing perspective to environmental issues" - Lynton J. Bussell, University of Teesside, UK

Table of Contents

Part I 1. The Natural Environment and the Human Economy: The Neoclassical perspective 2. The Natural Environment and the Human Economy: An ecological perspective 3. Ecological and Technological Determinants of the Trade-off between Economic Activity and Environmental Quality Part II 4. The Economic Theory of Pollution Control 5. The Economics of Environmental Regulation I: Emission standards and effluent charge 6. The Economics of Environmental Regulation II: Transferable emission credits, and the macroeconomic effects of environmental regulation 7. Alternative Methods of Valuation of Environmental Goods and Services 8. Frameworks for Assessing the Worthiness of Environmental Projects Part III 9. The Economics of Climate Change 10. The Economics of Biodiversity Part IV 11. Biophysical Limits to Economic Growth: The Malthusian/neo-Malthusian/ecological economics perspectives 12. Biophysical Limits to Economic Growth: The Neoclassical perspective 13. The Economics of Sustainability 14. Green Accounting and Alternative Indicators of Sustainability 15. The Business Cases for Sustainability Part V 16. Population, Poverty and Environmental Degradations in the Developing World

About the Author

Ahmed Hussen is Professor of Economics at Kalamazoo College, Michigan, USA. He was the recipient of the 1996 Florence J. Lucasse Lectureship award for excellence in teaching; Kalamazoo College’s highest faculty award. He has taught and conducted research at Waseda University, Japan (1990-91);Africa University, Zimbabwe (fall 1999-2000, and winter 2002-03); and the University of Botswana, as a Fullbright Scholar (2006-07).